Friction-clutch.



No. 797,578. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

A. E. HOL'GOMB.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION rum) un14,19o4.

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No. 797,578. PATENTED AUG.22,1905.

A. E. HOLUOMB.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFTUF.

ALPHEUS ELTON HOLCOMB, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed May 14,1904. Serial No. 207.980-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALrHnUs ELTON HOL COMB, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements inFriction-Clutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention is a friction-clutch; and the improvements consist in theparts, their combination, and the equivalents thereof, as will be fullyset forth in this specification.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a part-sectional elevation of the clutch. Fig. 2 is an endview. Fig. 3 is a face view and partial edge view of one of the drivingtransmission-rings. Fig. 4 is a face view of a driven transmission-ring.Fig. 5 is a side view of the linger or lever that operates the toggle.Fig. 6 is a side view of the toggle. Fig. 7 is a face view of thetogglebracket plate.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in a suitablecylindrical shell or casing 1, revolubly mounted on the shaft S andprovided with an antifriction-hearing 1. To this casing may be secured abrake-band, a gear, a pulley, or any other device or combination ofdevices to be actuated by the clutch when in gear. Fixed to the innerwall of the casing and extending parallel to the axis of the shaft is aplurality of keys 1, that project a short distance radially in from thecircumference of the casing. On these keys is slidably mounted a series,of annular driving transmission-rings 4, of steel, iron, or othersuitable material, having slots t in their peripheries to engage thekeys 1.

Keyed to the shaft and inclosed within the casing 1 is a hub 2, having aprojecting flange 2 at one end and having on its periphery a pluralityof fixed keys 2, arranged parallel with the shaft and projectingradially out from the hub. Upon these keys are slid annular drivingtransmission-rings 5, the details The hub 2 has on one end a series ofradially-disposed recesses 2, in which arepivotally mounted the leversor fingers 3, that actuate the gripping mechanism of the clutch. Eachfinger 3 has an inwardly-projecting hook or lug 3,

to which a slight forward or backward movement is imparted as the freeend of the finger 3 is forced out from or toward the axis of the shaft.This movement is accomplished by means of the sliding engaging cone 10,as is usual in clutches of thistype.

Secured by means of bolts 7 or otherwise fastened to the face of the hub2 is a plate 7, which 1 term the bracket-plate.- It not only carries thebrackets 8, in which are mounted the toggle-arms 8, but also forms aclosure or cap for the end of the clutch and prevents entrance of chipsor dirt liable to injure the friction-faces of the transmissioirrings.The lower end of a lever 8 is contacted by the hook of linger 3 andforced outward. The upper end of the lever 8 carries an adjustingscrew8, the inner end of which contacts with a projection 6, carried by theouter driving transmission-ring 6. The inner face of the drivingtransmission ring 6 is lined with wooden blocks 6, the grain of whichextends parallel with the axis of the shaft. Similarly each drivingtransmission-ring 5 is provided on each side with wooden blocks 5, andthe inner face of flange 2 is likewise provided with blocks 2 As isclearly shown in Fig. 3, each driving transmission-ring is made in twoparts secured together by mortised joints 5", held in place by screws 5.The forces in the rings act circumfcrentially and are resisted by thefaces of the mortises. This device permits each driving-ring to beremoved from the shaft without removing the clutch, and consequently thewooden wearing-faces can be easily and quickly removed and replaced. Therings 5 are provided on their inner pcripheries with slots 5,registering with the keys 2 of the hub 2.

It will be noted that the plate 7 when bolted to the hub 2 by means ofthe bolts 7" is practically integral with it, and hence the reactions offinger 3 and lever 8, carried by the bracket-plate 7, are localized inthe hub 2 and plate 7, thereby relieving the shell 1 of all endwisethrust due to pressure of the lever set-screw 8" upon the drivingtransmissionring 6. The combination of the finger 3 with the lever, asillustrated in Fig. 1, produces a powerful leverage that results inheavy thrust of the set-screw against the driving transmission-rings andgreatly increases the driving power of the clutch.

By using inserted wooden friction-blocks on both sides of eachtransmission-ring 5 and alternating the rings 5 with plain driventransmission-rings 4, preferably of steel or iron, it is only necessaryto remove half of the clutch-rings in order to renew all the woodenblocks.

It is usual in devices of this class to key the hub of the clutch to theshaft in order to lock the hub against rotation and also to insert aset-screw in the hub to take the end thrust, and thus prevent the hubsliding endwise on the shaft. It is found in practice that the setscrewburs out the metal of the shaft, and thereby makes it difficult toremove the hub by sliding it back on the shaft. I avoid this difficultyby not using a setscrew, as, there being no end thrust on the shaft, noset-screw is needed to take end thrust. I prevent the key 11 fromworking loose by forming the toggle-bracket plate 7 withinwardly-projecting wings 7", one of which is so arranged in assemblingthe clutch as to project down in front of the key 11, and therebyprevent longitudinal movement of the key along the shaft.

To prevent a too great endwise movement of the casing 1 relatively tothe hub 2 and to prevent the annular driving and driventransmission-rings 4 and 5 sliding off the fixed keys 1 and 2 afollower-ring 9 is bolted to the front face of the casing, as shown inFig. 2.

To return the toggle 8 to its normal position after having been forcedout by the finger 3, as previously described, I provide a lug S at eachside of the toggle 8. Through a hole 8" in the lug 8 passes a screw 8,which is threaded into the toggle-bracket plate 7. Between the face ofthe lug and the head of the screw is inserted a coil-spring 8 Thisspring is compressed by the outward movement of toggle 8, and as soon asthe pressure exerted by the finger 3 on toggle 8 is released the spring8 forces the toggle back into its normal position, thus relieving thepressure on the driving and driven transmission-rings and throwing theclutch out of gear.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isas follows:

1. The combination of an inclosing casing having keys on its innerperiphery; of annular metal driven rings slidably mounted on said keys;of a hub having a radially-projecting flange and axially-arranged keys;annular driving-rings faced with Wooden blocks and slidably mounted onsaid keys and alternating with driven rings; hooked fingers pivotallymounted in said hub; levers carried by said hub and having their innerends engaging the hooks of said fingers and each carrying a set-screw atits outer end adapted to force said rings together and against saidflange; together with a sliding cone engaging the free ends of saidfingers; substantially as described.

2. The combination with the shaft, of an inclosing casing;transmission-rings carried thereby; a hub carrying transmission-rings; akey securing the hub to the shaft; a bracket plate adapted to be securedto the hub of the clutch and carrying devices for actuating thetransmission-rings of the clutch; said bracketplate having inwardlyprojecting wings adapted to engage the key of said hub.

23. The combination of an inclosing casing having keys on its innerperiphery; of annular metal driven rings slidably mounted on said keys;of a hub havinga radially-project ing flange and axially-arranged keys;annular driving-rings faced with Wooden blocks and slidably mounted onsaid keys and alternating With said driven rings; hooked fingerspivotally mounted in said hub; means carried by said hub and actuated bysaid fingers for forcing said rings axially against said radial flange;together with a sliding cone engaging the free ends of said fingers.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALPHEUS ELTON HOLCOMB. \Vitnesses:

JOHN K. LAW, A. A. EAs'rERLY.

